Which place is cheaper, Brussels or Sintra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sintra or Brussels?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sintra or Brussels? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Sintra or Brussels?
Sintra
Located just 28 kilometers from Lisbon, Sintra is a town that was, for a long time, home to Portuguese royalty leading up to the 1910 revolution. In town you will find a Royal Palace and in the surrounding area there is a Moorish Castle, and the Pena Palace, which dates back to the 19th century. The town is on the Estoril Coast near the Sintra Mountains, making its setting very dramatic, beautiful and picturesque. The surrounding hills are actually designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because they offer a great combination of both cultural importance and natural beauty.
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the sight of the headquarters of the European Union. Generally speaking, it's an expensive city that sees a good amount of travelers. It is also a highly political city that has an air of importance and power. It's an incredibly international city, with people from all over the world flocking to it due to its political, economical, and cultural significance.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Portugal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySintra €115Brussels €137
The average daily cost (per person) in Sintra is €115, while the average daily cost in Brussels is €137. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Sintra and Brussels in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSintra €57Brussels €73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSintra €114Brussels €146
Compare Hotels in Sintra and Brussels
Looking for a hotel in Sintra or Brussels? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Sintra Hotel Prices and Brussels Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sintra €21Brussels €17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sintra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sintra:
- Algarve vs Lisbon: Private Transfer to/from Algarve /Lisbon: $513
- Estoril, Cascais or Sintra Private Transfer to Lisbon: $27
- Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais / Sintra / Estoril: $51
- Lisbon Airport: Cascais/Estoril/Sintra Private Transfer: $57
- Lisbon transfer, national and Iberian trips: $86
- Private Guided Transfer in Sintra and Lisbon: $87
- Private Transfer Lisbon & Cascais by Van or Car: $73
- Private transfer from Sintra to Porto with 2 hours for sightseeing: $289
- TRANSFER Cascais to Lisbon Airport: $82
- Tours and Transfers: $89
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(3pax): $98
- Transfer Cascais to Lisbon(8pax): $109
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Brussels are as follows:
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Subway Pass€4.50
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Atomium train ticket (2)€8.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brussels
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brussels:
- Brussels Airport: Transfer to/from Gent Sint Pieters Station: $11
- Airport Transfer to/from Lille City Center: $16
- Brussels to Brussels Airport (BRU) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Brussels to Ostend Airport (OST) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private Transfer from Brussels City to Brussels Airport(BRU): $44
- Private One-way from Brussels Transfer To Brussels Airport: $45
- Transfer to Brussels National Airport: $58
- Airport Arrivals Private Transfer to the City: $60
- Arrival Private Transfer Brussels Train Station to Brussels by Luxury Car or Van: $68
- VIP Transfer between City/ Airport and Ghent: $70
- Airport transfers from Brussels to Zaventem Brussels airport by luxury car: $74
- Brussels Zaventem Airport Private Transfer from/to Brussels: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Sintra or Brussels?
Prices for flights to both Brussels and Sintra change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySintra €42Brussels €38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sintra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sintra.
- Private Portuguese Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Lisbon Local: $220
Typical Food Prices in Brussels
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Brussels:
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Ice Cream & Macaroons€4.60
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Dessert (Turkish Delights)€4.75
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Cheese€5.60
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Olives and Snacks€6.98
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Waffle€3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brussels
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Brussels.
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $28
- Hard Rock Cafe Brussels with Set Lunch or Dinner : $29
- City Center Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $61
- Food Tour in Brussels - Do Eat Better Experience: $106
- Brussels Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $130
- Secret Food Tours Brussels: $137
- Market Tour and Cooking Lesson with a Belgian Gourmet Meal in a Brussels Home: $160
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $163
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sintra €23Brussels €23
Tours and Activities in Sintra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sintra are as follows:
- Discover Enchanted A Fairy-Tale Free Tour: $1.28
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $3.74
- Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Center Entry Ticket: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Pena Palace In-app Audio Tour (WITHOUT A TICKET): $7.44
- Sintra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Monserrate Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket: $13
- Sintra Sightseeing Train Tour: $13
- National Palace of Sintra and Gardens Fast Track Ticket: $14
- National Sintra Palace Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $16
- Hop-on Hop-off Tour in Sintra: $16
- Castle of the Moors E-Ticket & Optional Audio Guide: $18
Tours and Activities in Brussels
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Historical Walking Tour: The Story of Brussels - by Legends: $3.26
- Free Tour of Brussels in Italian (with booking fee): $3.26
- The Most Complete Tour Of Brussels: $3.26
- BELvue Belgium History Museum Entry Ticket: $5.35
- A Self-Guided Tour of Brussels' Secret Places and Untold Stories: $5.99
- 600 Years of History and Heritage: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Leuven: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.95
- Museum Halle Gate Entry Ticket: $7.49
- A Self-Guided Tour of From Medieval to Modern Times: $7.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySintra €17Brussels €13
Sample the Local Flavors in Sintra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sintra:
- Half-Day Tour in Cascais / Sintra with Brunch and Wine Tasting: $60
- Hiking and Wine Tasting Experience: $71
- Half Day in Sintra and Cabo da Roca with Wine Tasting: $82
- Wine Tasting Tour: $82
- Private tour wine tasting in Setubal: $96
- Excursion from Lisbon to Setúbal: Nature, Beach and Wine Tasting: $125
- Private Tour Sétubal, Palmela, Arrábida with wine tasting: $175
- Hidden Gems: Sintra & Cascais Private Tour with Wine Tasting: $181
- From Lisbon Private Tour to Porto with Port Wine Tasting: $235
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Brussels are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine€10
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Beer€6.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Brussels
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Brussels:
- Brussels Pub Crawl - Nightlife & Party Experience: $17
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Party Experience: $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sintra and Brussels, we can see that Brussels is more expensive. And not only is Sintra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sintra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sintra and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Brussels would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brussels than you might in Sintra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sintra Expensive? and Is Brussels Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sintra or Brussels?
Brussels has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Sintra. When comparing the sizes of Sintra and Brussels, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Sintra or Brussels?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Sintra or Brussels in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sintra and Brussels. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Brussels because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Sintra is a little warmer than Brussels in the summer. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Brussels fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In Sintra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Brussels during summer. Sintra gets 352 hours of sunny skies, while Brussels receives 186 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Sintra usually receives less rain than Brussels. Sintra gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySintra 23°C (73°F)Brussels 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Brussels in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Sintra as well as Brussels. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Brussels this time of year.
In the autumn, Sintra is much warmer than Brussels. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sintra in October average around 19°C (66°F), and Brussels averages at about 12°C (54°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sintra this time of the year. In the autumn, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Brussels. Sintra gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brussels receives 114 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in October than Brussels. Sintra gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSintra 19°C (66°F)Brussels 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Brussels in the Winter?
Both Brussels and Sintra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Brussels for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Brussels. In January, Sintra is generally much warmer than Brussels. Daily temperatures in Sintra average around 12°C (53°F), and Brussels fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Sintra usually receives more sunshine than Brussels during winter. Sintra gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Brussels receives 49 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Sintra. In January, Sintra usually receives more rain than Brussels. Sintra gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySintra 12°C (53°F)Brussels 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Sintra or Brussels in the Spring?
Both Brussels and Sintra during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Brussels in the spring for the activities around the city.
Sintra is much warmer than Brussels in the spring. The daily temperature in Sintra averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Brussels fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
It's quite sunny in Sintra. In the spring, Sintra often gets more sunshine than Brussels. Sintra gets 235 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brussels receives 147 hours of full sun.
Sintra usually gets more rain in April than Brussels. Sintra gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSintra 16°C (60°F)Brussels 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Brussels and Sintra
| Sintra | Brussels | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.